Mississauga Councillor Sue McFadden has called on the city’s integrity commissioner to investigate Mayor Hazel McCallion’s “disdainful, exclusionary, rude and petulant” behaviour toward her at recent public events.

Her request, which sparked derision from the Mayor’s closest allies, is just the latest sign of the deep divisions plaguing city council.

“The Mayor has been, and continues to be, publicly disrespectful, insulting and abusive toward me… to the point where I’m beginning to feel hampered in my ability to serve the residents of Ward 10,” Ms. McFadden stated in a letter filed Wednesday with integrity commissioner George Rust-D’Eye. Citing several potential code-of-conduct breaches, Ms. McFadden said the Mayor’s “bullying” behaviour has intensified since last year’s bitterly fought election.

The letter points to two specific incidents in which the Mayor allegedly snubbed and criticized Ms. McFadden in a public forum.

Last month, at a community event designed to raise money for the Credit Valley Hospital, Ms. McCallion “refused to recognize me, refused to include me in photographs and most significantly criticized a decision of council” to forgo donating $25,000 to the hospital’s 25th anniversary celebration, Ms. McFadden said.

Then, at a Chinese New Year celebration last Friday, the Mayor failed to conduct herself with decorum as required by the code of conduct, Ms. McFadden said.

“When invited to speak, she praised the new members of council and then proceeded to turn her wrath upon me,” Ms. McFadden said. “She talked about getting rid of two troublemakers in the recent election” — a reference to ousted councillors Carolyn Parrish and Carmen Corbasson — “and her intention to get rid of me as one who asks embarrassing questions and continues to make council dysfunctional.”

“This from a councillor who recently likened the Mayor to Hitler to a group of high school students,” Ms. Mahoney said, referring to Ms. McFadden’s controversial comments during the election campaign, in which she suggested Ms. McCallion was running a dictatorship in Mississauga.

Ms. Mahoney called the code-of-conduct request “a complete abuse of the process at taxpayer expense,” noting council members should be able to resolve such issues among themselves.

“Having been in politics for 20 years, I know it can be a rough place to be, so if a politician can’t take the heat, it’s time to get out of the kitchen,” Ms. Mahoney said.

Ms. McCallion was out of the country Wednesday and unavailable for comment.

Ms. McFadden — who is part of a rebel faction on council that has repeatedly challenged Ms. McCallion’s authority — contends the Mayor’s treatment of her is a direct result of her ongoing probe into the annual mayor’s charity gala, which has revealed questionable financial practices.

“Last time I remember, I was elected by the people of Ward 10 to ask these questions, to make sure that things are going well at City Hall,” Ms. McFadden said.